System and method of running an agent guide script-flow in an employee desktop web client

ABSTRACT

In the field of government engagement management, an agent guide or script-flow in an employee desktop web client is implemented. In such a system and method, when agents create interactions with clients they can follow a script-flow which will guide the agent through the interaction through a series of menu selections and automated sets of instructions. This feature of the government engagement management system allows existing customer investment from the rich desktop client or non-web client in developing specific scripts, that can also now function in the web client atmosphere. This system and method also enables an agent to handle calls with the web client more efficiently, and allows agents on the web client to automatically classify.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. applicationSer. No. 15/987,574, filed May 23, 2018, which application is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/217,240, filed Jul. 22,2016, which application claims priority of European Patent ApplicationNo. 16177306.4, filed Jun. 30, 2016, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

In exemplary government engagement management systems, web client orweb-based interaction and engagement systems are unable to accommodateworkflow scripts for many of the tasks associated with assisting clientsand completing the workflow records created on behalf of clients. Webclient agents are unable to follow a script to guide them through thehandling of such interactions.

SUMMARY

In the field of government engagement management, an agent guide orscript-flow in an employee desktop web client is implemented. In such asystem and method, when agents create interactions with clients they canfollow a script-flow which will guide the agent through the interactionthrough a series of menu selections and automated sets of instructions.This feature of the government engagement management system allowsexisting customer investment from the rich desktop client or non-webclient in developing specific scripts, that can also now function in theweb client atmosphere. This system and method also enables an agent tohandle calls with the web client more efficiently, and allows agents onthe web client to automatically classify.

In one embodiment of the present application, a method of running anagent guide script-flow for an agent in a web client application, themethod comprises starting an interaction with a client with the webclient application by the agent, displaying the agent guide script-flowto the agent with a graphical user interface, and completing theinteraction with the client after the script-flow is completed.

In an additional embodiment of the present application, a non-transientcomputer readable medium programmed with computer readable code thatupon execution by a computer processor causes the computer processor tostart an interaction with a client with the web client application bythe agent, display the agent guide script-flow to the agent with agraphical user interface, and complete the interaction with the clientafter the script-flow is completed.

In an additional embodiment of the present application, a system forrunning an agent guide script-flow for an agent, the system comprises aclient graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the agent starts aninteraction with a client with a GUI, a script-flow applicationcomprising a plurality of script flows, wherein a script-flow is used toassist the agent if the interaction is associated with any of theplurality of script-flows, and a processing system communicativelyconnected to the script-flow application and the GUI, the processingsystem effectuates the agent logging into the web client application,starting the interaction with the client displaying the agent guidescript-flow to the agent with the graphical user interface, andcompleting the interaction with the client after the script-flow iscompleted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system of thepresent application.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system of thepresent application.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are screen shots illustrating graphical userinterfaces exemplary of an embodiment of the system of the presentapplication.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method of thepresent application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the present description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beapplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes only and are intended to bebroadly construed. The different systems and methods described hereinmay be used alone or in combination with other systems and methods.Various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible withinthe scope of the appended claims. Each limitation in the appended claimsis intended to invoke interpretation under 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixthparagraph, only if the terms “means for” or “step for” are explicitlyrecited in the respective limitation.

In the field of government engagement management systems, agents in webclient systems may wish to run specific scripts that allow the agent tobe more efficient in handling interactions with a customer moreefficiently by improving the operation of the system and computergenerally. In such cases, the user logs on to an employee desktop webclient as an interaction handling agent and starts an interaction withthe user, by clicking on a VOICE IN button or another activation buttonon an interaction bar, thus allowing a script-flow to launch and displayto the agent. The agent will then speak the text shown on the graphicaluser interface to the client and select the menu based on the responseof the client. The agent may then be shown different screens in thecontent panel based on the nature of the call, and the interaction withthe client is ended when the client has no more queries for the agent,and/or when the script-flow is completed.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart that depicts an exemplary embodiment of a method400 of agent guide script flow. FIG. 5 illustrates a method 400 of thepresent application, and in an exemplary embodiment is performed inreal-time during an agent/client interaction. Here, an agent logs in tothe web client in step 402 and starts an interaction with a client 404.In step 406, the system, if a script-flow is associated with theinteraction type being carried out with the client, the agent followsthe script-flow guide throughout the interaction 410. The script-flowmay be any script flow utilized in the present system for interactionsbetween an agent and a client. In step 408, once the script-flow iscompleted, the agent then completes the call/interaction with the clientbefore the method ends. If in step 406 the script-flow is not associatedwith this interaction type with the client, then the agent must completethe call/interaction 408 with the client without the use of ascript-flow to guide the agent throughout the interaction, before themethod (interaction) ends.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system 200for script-flow running. The system 200 is generally a computing systemthat includes a processing system 206, storage system 204, software 202,communication interface 208 and a user interface 210. The processingsystem 206 loads and executes software 202 from the storage system 204,including a software module 230. When executed by the computing system200, software module 230 directs the processing system 206 to operate asdescribed in herein in further detail in accordance with the method 100,as in further embodiments in accordance with the method 400 describedherein with respect to FIG. 5.

Although the computing system 200 as depicted in FIG. 2 includes onesoftware module in the present example, it should be understood that oneor more modules could provide the same operation. Similarly, whiledescription as provided herein refers to a computing system 200 and aprocessing system 206, it is to be recognized that implementations ofsuch systems can be performed using one or more processors, which may becommunicatively connected, and such implementations are considered to bewithin the scope of the description. It is also contemplated that thesecomponents of the computing system 200 may be operating in a number ofphysical locations described below in the system 100 of FIG. 1.

The processing system 206 can comprise a microprocessor and othercircuitry that retrieves and executes software 202 from storage system204. Processing system 206 can be implemented within a single processingdevice but can also be distributed across multiple processing devices orsub-systems that cooperate in existing program instructions. Examples ofprocessing system 206 include general purpose central processing units,application specific processors, and logic devices, as well as any othertype of processing device, combinations of processing devices, orvariations thereof.

The storage system 204 can comprise any storage media readable byprocessing system 206, and capable of storing software 202. The storagesystem 204 can include volatile and non-volatile, removable andnon-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storageof information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures,program modules, or other data. Storage system 204 can be implemented asa single storage device but may also be implemented across multiplestorage devices or sub-systems. Storage system 204 can further includeadditional elements, such a controller capable, of communicating withthe processing system 206.

Examples of storage media include random access memory, read onlymemory, magnetic discs, optical discs, flash memory, virtual memory, andnon-virtual memory, magnetic sets, magnetic tape, magnetic disc storageor other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be usedto store the desired information and that may be accessed by aninstruction execution system, as well as any combination or variationthereof, or any other type of storage medium. In some implementations,the storage media can be a non-transitory storage media. In someimplementations, at least a portion of the storage media may betransitory.

User interface 210 can include a mouse, a keyboard, a voice inputdevice, a touch input device for receiving a gesture from a user, amotion input device for detecting non-touch gestures and other motionsby a user, and other comparable input devices and associated processingelements capable of receiving user input from a user. Output devicessuch as a video display or graphical display can display an interfacefurther associated with embodiments of the system and method asdisclosed herein. Speakers, printers, haptic devices and other types ofoutput devices may also be included in the user interface 210. An agent250 communicates with the computing system 200 through the userinterface 210 in order to enter client input 220, to manage aninteraction, or any number of other tasks the agent 250 may want tocomplete with the computing system 200 as well be described in greaterdetail below.

As described in further detail herein, the computing system 200 receivesand transmits data through communication interface 208. In embodiments,the communication interface 208 operates to send and/or receive datato/from other devices to which the computing system 200 iscommunicatively connected, and to received and process client input 220,as will be described in greater detail below. The client input 220 willinclude details about a request, work order or other set of informationthat will necessitate an interaction between the client and the agent.Client input 220 may also be made directly to the agent 250, as will bedescribed in further detail below.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an engagement management system100 according to the present application. The client graphical userinterface (GUI) 102 includes a number of client applications 104, 106,108, 110 and serves as the client 101 and agent 103, 105 interface forthe system 100. The client GUI 102 may include any of the followingapplications: first, an employee rich desktop 104, an employee webdesktop 106, an online form application 108 and a self-serviceapplication 110. The employee rich desktop 104 is not the subject ofthis application, and its function and operation is associated only withenterprise-type engagement management systems. The client 101 in such asystem 100 may contact the client GUI 102 in order to report a problem,issue and/or make a work request, or any other type of interaction thatthe client 101 may have with the government entity utilizing this system100. The client 101 may contact the system 100 in a number of ways overa number of mediums, such as but not limited to, e-mail, voicemail,online access, and/or through direct telephone contact. In the case ofutilizing a telephone in order to start an interaction, the user 101 maycontact a front-end agent 103 directly to report an incident or workrequest. The front-end agent 103 will then utilize the employee desktop106 to create an interaction order for the client. This interactionorder may be carried out by the front-end agent 103 at the time of thecall or at a later time, or by a back-end agent 105 who may only handlethe processing of such orders. The client 101 may also call into theclient GUI 102 system and leave a voicemail, e-mail the client GUI 102,or log in to a client app (not shown) in the client GUI 102 in order tocreate an interaction order as well. The client GUI 102 also includes anonline form application 108 that allows the agent 103, 105 to save anumber of standard and/or commonly used forms for the agent 103, 105 touse, and a self-service application 110 where the client 100 may log inand create an order without interacting with an agent 103, 105.

The client GUI 102 is therefore the point of interface for the client101 as well as the agent 103, 105 in the system 100, and is incommunication with the remainder of the system through a network 111.The network is preferably the internet, or another LAN, but generallythe system 100 described here in the present application is directedtoward the employee web desktop application 106, that utilizes a clientGUI 102 separated by the remainder of the system 100 through theinternet.

The server-side services 112 include a number of service applications114 utilized by the employee web desktop 106. The service applicationsshown in FIG. 1 are exemplary only, and may be interchanged with otherapplications and/or some applications may be removed. In this particularapplication, the script-flow service application 114 will be utilized.The system 100 also includes an integration module 116 that includes anumber of integration applications 118 that may be utilized to integratewith other portions of the system 100 that are not shown, as well as athird-party integration module 120 that includes third-party integrationapplications 122 that may be utilized to integrate with other systemsand applications outside of the current system 100. The databases 124include an online transactional process database (OLTP) 126 that storesall configuration and interaction data, as well as providing a secureand resilient way of holding information and enables data extractionusing standard database reporting tools. The databases 124 may be heldon a physically separate machine from the server-side services 112 or onthe same physical location. The OLTP database 126 stores all of the dataneeded for interaction case manipulation and/or execution. The data mart(DM) database 127 is a reporting database configured so that reportingdoes not have to be done from the OLTP database 126. The knowledgedatabase 129 is utilized for the owner of the engagement managementsystem 100 to store its own website or other information. Theconfiguration module 128 includes a number of configuration applications130 that are utilized to set-up, maintain and configure the system 100.

FIG. 3 illustrates a graphical user interface 300 of the system andmethod of the present application before an interaction has been startedby an agent. The agent starts an interaction by clicking the VOICE INbutton 302. It should be noted that any new cases created during thisinteraction with the client are attributed to the interaction. At thistime, it is clear in this GUI 300 that no script-flow is currentlyrunning, as only a case menu appears on the left. Once an interactionwith a client is started, such as a call or a face-to-face conversation,then the script-flow launches in the script-flow portion 304 of the GUI300, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and it causes a preconfigured page 306 toappear. In this example, it shows the reconfigured page 306 attributedto a local government. The agent then chooses a menu item 308 and isguided through the call with the client.

The functional block diagrams, operational sequences, and flow diagramsprovided in the Figures are representative of exemplary architectures,environments, and methodologies for performing novel aspects of thedisclosure. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, themethodologies included herein may be in the form of a functionaldiagram, operational sequence, or flow diagram, and may be described asa series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that themethodologies are not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may, inaccordance therewith, occur in a different order and/or concurrentlywith other acts from that shown and described herein. For example, thoseskilled in the art will understand and appreciate that a methodology canalternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states orevents, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all acts illustratedin a methodology may be required for a novel implementation.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the inventionis defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur tothose skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be withinthe scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do notdiffer from the literal language of the claims, or if they includeequivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from theliteral languages of the claims.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beinferred therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued. The different configurations, systems, and method stepsdescribed herein may be used alone or in combination with otherconfigurations, systems and method steps. It is to be expected thatvarious equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible withinthe scope of the appended claims.

1. A method of running an agent guide script-flow for an agent in a webclient application, the method comprising: starting an interaction witha client with the web client application by the agent; displaying theagent guide script-flow to the agent with a graphical user interface;and completing the interaction with the client after the script-flow iscompleted.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising logging into theweb client application by the agent before starting the interaction. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction with the client is anyone of a live telephone call, face-to-face, or a web chat session withthe client.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising completing theinteraction with the client without the agent guide script-flow if noscript-flow is associated with the started interaction type.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface further includesa pre-configured page that may be tailored for the particular agent. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface includes ascript-flow portion of the graphical user interface, wherein thescript-flow portion includes a plurality of menu items that run theagent guide script-flow and assist the agent in the interaction with theclient.
 7. A non-transient computer readable medium programmed withcomputer readable code that upon execution by a computer processorcauses the computer processor to: start an interaction with a clientwith the web client application by the agent; display the agent guidescript-flow to the agent with a graphical user interface; and completethe interaction with the client after the script-flow is completed. 8.The medium of claim 7, further comprising that the agent logs into theweb client application before starting the interaction.
 9. The medium ofclaim 7, wherein the interaction with the client is any one of a livetelephone call, face-to-face, or a web chat session with the client. 10.The medium of claim 7, further comprising that the client completes theinteraction without the agent guide script-flow if no script-flow isassociated with the started interaction type.
 11. The medium of claim 7,wherein the graphical user interface further includes a pre-configuredpage that may be tailored for the particular agent.
 12. The medium ofclaim 7, wherein the graphical user interface includes a script-flowportion of the graphical user interface, wherein the script-flow portionincludes a plurality of menu items that run the agent guide script-flowand assist the agent in the interaction with the client.
 13. A systemfor running an agent guide script-flow for an agent, the systemcomprising: a client graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the agentstarts an interaction with a client with a GUI; a script-flowapplication comprising a plurality of script flows, wherein ascript-flow is used to assist the agent if the interaction is associatedwith any of the plurality of script-flows; and a processing systemcommunicatively connected to the script-flow application and the GUI,the processing system effectuates the agent logging into the web clientapplication, starting the interaction with the client displaying theagent guide script-flow to the agent with the graphical user interface,and completing the interaction with the client after the script-flow iscompleted.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the interaction with theclient is any one of a live telephone call, face-to-face, or a web chatsession with the client.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein thegraphical user interface further includes a pre-configured page that maybe tailored for the particular agent.
 16. The system of claim 13,wherein the graphical user interface includes a script-flow portion ofthe graphical user interface, wherein the script-flow portion includes aplurality of menu items that run the agent guide script-flow and assistthe agent in the interaction with the client.
 17. A method of running anagent guide script-flow for an agent in a web client application, themethod comprising: integrating to an external application for an agentin a web client application; starting an interaction with a client withthe web client application by the agent; displaying the agent guidescript-flow to the agent with a graphical user interface; searching forrelevant knowledge content through a third-party integration moduleusing a graphical user interface, wherein the third-party integrationmodule integrates with other systems and applications outside of acurrent system in order to search for the relevant knowledge content,wherein the other systems and applications outside of the current systemare integrated into the graphical user interface; and completing theinteraction with the client after the script-flow is completed using thegraphical user interface with enhanced input from the search step.